4,614 related texts · Page 12 of 97
It might surprise you. Imagine all the angels gathered, a celestial court in session. They turn to the Master of the Universe himself and ask, "What day is Rosh ha-Shanah?" That's ...
Chapter 2 Our forefather Jacob was 63 when he was blessed. Ishmael died at that time as is written, "Esau saw that Isaac had blessed...Jacob listened to his father...Esau saw [the ...
You know the one – stretching all the way from earth to heaven, angels going up and down, up and down. He jolted awake and said, "In truth, the Glory of the Shekhinah (the Divine P...
“Zion spread her hands, there was no comforter for her; the Lord has commanded for Jacob that her adversaries surround her. Jerusalem has become like a pariah among them” (Lamentat...
“It is the Lord’s kindnesses that have not ceased, for His mercies have not ended” (Lamentations 3:22).“It is the Lord’s kindnesses that have not ceased” – Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish ...
Another interpretation: “From people [mimtim] by Your hand” – who are these courageous men who took theirs from under the hand of God? And who was that? That was the generation of ...
And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba (Gen. 28:10). May it please our master to teach us where a man who has unintentionally taken the life of another man may take refuge. Thus do our...
He dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth; and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it (Gen. 28:12). R. Samuel the s...
He commanded them, saying; “Thus shall you say unto my lord Esau” (Gen. 32:5). R. Judah the son of Simon began the discussion with the verse: As a troubled fountain, and a corrupte...
Who came into Egypt with Jacob (Exod. 1:1). Did they actually enter Egypt on that very day? Had not many days passed by since their arrival? (This informs us that) as long as Josep...
(Numb. 3:40:) “Enroll every first-born male.” This text is related (to Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you….” The Holy One, blessed be ...
to the Book of Jubilees, a text not found in the Hebrew Bible itself, but considered sacred by some, particularly within Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. It's a retelling of Genesi...
The ancient Israelites certainly did! And this chapter of the Book of Jasher throws us right into the middle of their long, winding journey. Remember Korah's rebellion? The Book of...
The story of Jacob's sons, Simon and Levi, and their actions in Shechem is a prime example. As we know, they took drastic revenge for the rape of their sister Dinah. But as Legends...
We often hear about the immediate aftermath – the vengeance of Simeon and Levi. But what about Jacob and his family? Did they just pack up and leave? Well, according to the Legends...
The story of Simon and Levi's vengeance upon the city of Shechem, after the rape of their sister Dinah, is one such tale. We’ve talked before about how their actions were, shall we...
More than just architecture and gold, we're talking about the very names etched onto the High Priest's garments—each letter, each stone, imbued with meaning. Take the ephod, for in...
We often picture them as a unified mass, but the ancient texts paint a much more vibrant, organized picture. Imagine a sea of colorful banners, each telling a story, each represent...
The Mekhilta, the tannaitic midrash on Exodus, turns to one of the most severe prophecies in the Hebrew Bible: the destruction of Esau's descendants. The prophet Obadiah declares: ...
..[With regard to] this did [Jeremiah] say to have it written, 'Surely the shepherd boys will drag away [the evil ones, Edom or Babylonia in defeat].' (Jeremiah 49:20, 50:45) Rabbi...
Sometimes, the answer lies hidden in plain sight, tucked away in ancient commentaries on the Torah. Take, for example, the seemingly simple act of bathing a baby after circumcision...
It’s not a typo, and it’s definitely not random! There’s a beautiful lesson tucked away in that apparent inconsistency. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, offered a pow...
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old (Gen. 27:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Instead of thy fathers shall be thy sons, whom thou shalt make prin...
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly (Gen. 27:33). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord sh...
Let my soul not come into their council (Gen. 49:6). This relates to when Zimri came and had intercourse with Cozbi. Let my soul not be mentioned in reference to them. And that is ...
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:28). Elsewhere it is written: Twelve princes shall he beget (Gen. 17:20). These are the number of the tribes, and the world is ar...
(Numb. 2:2:) [“The Children of Israel shall camp,] each with his standard, under the banners for their fathers' houses….” This text is related (to Ps. 20:6), “Let us shout for joy ...
The Book of Jubilees, also known as Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work of 50 chapters, considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as Ethiopian J...
Talk about a seating chart nightmare! But let's back up a little, because the passage we're looking at from the Book of Jubilees 20 actually starts with a tender, if somewhat bitte...
That tension, that pull in different directions, is something our ancestors wrestled with too. to a fascinating, and perhaps a little uncomfortable, passage from the Book of Jubile...
It’s a beautiful, almost intimate, scene from the life of Jacob, the patriarch who would become known as Israel. Specifically, we are looking at Chapter 22. Imagine old Jacob, his ...
Jubilees, for those unfamiliar, is an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories in Genesis and Exodus, offering a unique perspective on history and law. Some consider it part...
Our focus today is on Jacob, later to be named Israel, and a very specific moment in his journey. The text places him at the "Well of the Oath" – Beersheba in Hebrew – in a very pa...
Sometimes, the answers lie in unexpected places – like the Book of Jubilees. It’s an ancient Jewish text, considered by some to be part of the biblical canon, though it's not inclu...
to a beautiful, intimate moment from the Book of Jubilees, a text considered sacred by some, and a fascinating window into ancient Jewish thought for us all. We find ourselves with...
We're talking about Isaac, Rebecca, and their sons, Jacob and Esau. You probably know the basics. But the Book of Jubilees, a Jewish apocryphal text that expands on stories from Ge...
The story of Jacob and Esau, and their mother Rebecca, is a powerful, sometimes troubling, example of maternal love… and perhaps, a bit of manipulation. to the Book of Jubilees, a ...
We all know the story of Jacob and Esau. The twins, locked in a sibling rivalry that shaped a nation. But the Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered apocryphal by some, of...
Like, you read them and think, "Wait, did that really happen that way?" Let's talk about one of those moments. It's in the Book of Jubilees, chapter 26, and it's about Isaac, Jacob...
That’s the gut-wrenching scene we find ourselves in as we open the Book of Jubilees, chapter 26. The patriarch Isaac has just unknowingly blessed his younger son, Jacob, instead of...
to a juicy little episode from the Book of Jubilees, chapter 27, and see what kind of familial kerfuffles our ancestor Jacob found himself in. Remember Jacob and Esau? Those twins,...
We’re stepping back into the lives of Jacob and Rebecca, a mother and son navigating a complex web of familial expectations and divine promises. Jacob, as you might recall, is dest...
The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered scripture in some traditions, gives us a glimpse. It fills in gaps in the biblical narrative, offering a more detailed and somet...
That’s the feeling I get whenever I read the story of Jacob’s dream in the Book of Jubilees. Here’s the scene: Jacob, all alone on a journey. The sun is setting, and he’s far from ...
He wasn’t just tired and looking for a place to rest his head. He stumbled upon something truly extraordinary. After a long journey, Jacob uses a stone as a pillow. He falls asleep...
The story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel – now that's a tangle! It all boils down to love, deception, and the weight of heavenly decrees. Jacob, as we know, was head-over-heels for Rac...
The Book of Jubilees, for those unfamiliar, is an ancient Jewish text that retells stories from Genesis and Exodus, but with extra details, moral lessons, and a very specific calen...
Let’s look at a moment tucked away in the Book of Jubilees, chapter 28. It's a passage that, on the surface, seems simple, but whispers volumes about love, labor, and divine interv...
